Dicasteries•Local Church

Vatican bans traditional Latin mass in Finnish cathedral

The Vatican’s reasoning for the relocation—citing the cathedral as a «sign of unity»—highlights the ongoing tensions between the Vatican under Pope Francis and segments of the Catholic community that favor the traditional liturgy.

Aug 23, 2024 17:18

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Ecumenism

Estonia’s Orthodox Separate from Moscow’s Orthodox Patriarchate

Parallelly, Estonia’s Orthodox Church has initiated conversations with the Estonian Government to explore the possibility of unification with the Apostolic Orthodox Church of Estonia, which is under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Aug 22, 2024 06:52

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Justice and Peace•Local Church•Religious Freedom

Ukrainian Parliament Declares Illegal Orthodox Church in Communion with Moscow

The new legislation, which was strongly supported by the Supreme Rada with 265 votes in favour and just 29 against, gives the Ukrainian Government the legal faculties to investigate and prohibit the activities of religious groups that have too close ties with Russia or that support the military aggression against Ukraine.

Aug 21, 2024 07:52

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Justice and Peace•Local Church

Russian Missile Destroys Catholic Church in Ukraine. Photos Show the Devastation

The Russian missile left the church, which was rebuilt and consecrated in 2014, in rubble. The images shared by the Greek-Catholic Ukrainian Church, show the building totally devastated, with windows and doors ripped out, and the structure deformed by the explosion.

Aug 17, 2024 07:32

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Local Church

Scandal in Caritas-Luxemburg: Fraud and Crisis of Confidence in One of the Country’s Main Charitable Organizations

The case has unleashed a wide debate in Luxembourg about the need for greater transparency and control in the running of organizations that manage public funds, especially those that, like Caritas, play a crucial role in assistance to the neediest.

Aug 12, 2024 08:39

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Cardinals and Bishops•Gender Ideology•Local Church•Woman

Woman Wins Lawsuit Against Two Bishops in Belgium for Refusing to Accept Her for Diaconal Formation

The archbishops of Mechelen-Brussels were sentenced to pay compensation for “gender discrimination”

Jun 27, 2024 16:46

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Local Church•Religious Freedom

Religious symbols banned in Polish capital, forced to use LGBT+ language

According to the newspaper, the new regulations mandate that all official events must be secular and devoid of prayers. The updated code of conduct also requires public employees to respect same-sex couples, allowing them to collect official documents on behalf of their partners despite the lack of legal recognition of their relationships under current Polish law.

May 21, 2024 17:15

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Good News•Local Church•Vocations

The Boom and Vocational “Miracle” of a Men’s Monastery in Austria

According to Abbot Maximilian Heim, the key to its success is rooted in the love of God and neighbour, and in following Saint Benedict’s Rule: “Ora, Lege et Labora” (Pray, Read and Work). This philosophy, combined with the unity within the community and with the Church, has enabled Heiligenkreuz to flourish in modern times.

May 19, 2024 12:08

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Cardinals and Bishops•Gender Ideology•Local Church

Germany: bishop responsible for queer ministry calls for changes in Church doctrine

Schepers aims to change the Church’s doctrine because «the Church’s teaching is still based on the premise that there are only men and only women.»

May 14, 2024 21:03

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Cardinals and Bishops•Local Church•Pope Francis•Protection of vulnerable people

Pope Francis removes Belgian bishop convicted of abuse from the clerical state

On March 8, 2024, after carefully examining the prelate’s defense, the Doctrine of the Faith proposed to Pope Francis the dismissal from the clerical state in accordance with the regulations established in Pope John Paul II’s motu proprio on the «most serious crimes.»

Mar 21, 2024 00:07

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Local Church•Testimonies

Cardinal Christoph Shönborn: I Am Impressed by the Pope’s Patience with the German Bishops

Cardinal Christoph Shönborn: I Am Impressed by the Pope’s Patience with the German Bishops

Mar 02, 2024 04:57

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Good News•Local Church

Church bombed in Ukraine, everything destroyed, but image of Virgin Mary remains intact

This is not the first incident of this kind that the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus has experienced. Just over a year ago, another bomb struck the temple, but the structure was saved thanks to a fence that absorbed the explosive force.

Feb 27, 2024 01:45

Joachin Meisner Hertz